News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Kindergarten Enrolment

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Kindergarten Enrolment

In the Slovenian municipalities of Šentjernej, Škocjan, and Šmarješke Toplice, acceptance of Children in kindergartens is supposed to be easy and fast.

However, despite a large Roma population in Šentjernej, no Roma children are currently enrolled in local kindergartens, highlighting challenges in getting them to school.

The number of children with special needs is increasing, while overall birth rates are declining, affecting kindergarten enrollment numbers.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Roma Mufti

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Serbian Roma Mufti

The Islamic Community of Serbia has appointed Alija ef. Dermaku, an imam from Bujanovac, as the first mufti for the Roma community in Serbia and the diaspora.

Dermaku’s role will encompass overseeing Roma Muslims both in Serbia and abroad, reflecting his long-standing involvement with the community and understanding of their culture.

This appointment is significant as it marks a shift in representation for Roma Muslims within the Islamic Community of Serbia, highlighting the community’s presence in various regions, including northern Kosovo. This latter statement is far from anodine and is politically loaded. Northern Kosovo Roma – mostly Gurbeti – while predominantly moslem, are more related to their other Gurbeti brethren in further South than any others in Serbia proper.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbian Elections

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Serbian Elections

A meeting in Belgrade resulted in an agreement among four political organizations representing the Roma community to collaborate in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The goal is to ensure that the Roma community has authentic political representation in the Serbian Assembly after nearly two decades without it.

The president of the Union of Roma of Serbia emphasized the importance of offering the Roma citizens a choice of political options that genuinely understand their issues.

Let’s see what it brings… In several cases, Roma votes were bought on behalf of the ruling party…

France News Western Europe

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Appart form the many articles on Toni Gatlif about which we reported separatedly, the news in France are more of the usual. Politics in Nantes after the expulsion of a camps in the East of the city, and a large camp near Paris being closed, leaving, according to the press a large amount of garbage.

News Switzerland

Beggars in Geneva

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Beggars in Geneva

After the courts rejected the anti-begging laws, the Geneva right wing intends to continue the fight focusing on the occupation and cleanliness of public spaces. Read this as a measure against Roma…

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Roma Grave

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Roma Grave

The family of Zlatici Balážová, known as Ťumy, has redesigned her extravagant grave in Prešov, Slovakia, returning to a red and white floral theme while adding golden angel statues.

The grave, made of polished pink marble, is a prominent feature in the cemetery, reflecting the family’s ongoing dedication to honoring her memory with annual decorations.

Zlatici was buried six years ago, and her husband organized a lavish funeral that included a horse-drawn carriage, showcasing their affinity for luxury and elaborate tributes.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Roma in Slovenia

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Roma in Slovenia

Melisa Gutmann and Sandi Horvat are members of the Slovenian Roma Academic Club (RAK), which was founded in 2008. Horvat joined it two years later and has been its president for the past few years, while Gutmann is the vice president, who has been working in the club for ten years. We bring you their stories, their rich experiences, observations and warnings about what the real problem is… Read the double interview, from which it is clear: “The problem is not the Roma, the problem is in the system, which has been repeating the same mistakes for decades.”

Greece News Western Europe

Thessaloniki Exhibition

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Thessaloniki Exhibition

ThePressProject and the Islahane Cultural Center in Thessaloniki will host a photography exhibition titled “The 12 Million We Ignore” from September 14-18, focusing on the lives and rights of Roma and Travellers in Europe.

The exhibition will feature photographs and testimonies collected over a year, highlighting issues such as forced sterilizations, segregation in schools, and institutional neglect faced by these communities.

The opening on September 15 will include discussions with Roma community members and a performance by a youth percussion band, aiming to raise awareness and promote equality.

Greece News Western Europe

Crete and Roma

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Crete and Roma

The Pan-Cretan Association of Greek Roma Citizens is seeking legal action following a leptospirosis incident involving an 11-year-old girl living in a Roma settlement in Heraklion.

The association’s president described the living conditions in the settlement as a serious public health issue, urging local authorities to take immediate action to improve sanitation and protect residents.

The municipality claims that cleaning crews work almost daily in the area, but face challenges due to improper waste disposal by residents, complicating sanitation efforts.

News Eastern Europe North Macedonia

Šerutnipe – Šutka

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Šerutnipe – Šutka

For the first time, Roma mayors, councilors, presidents of councils and parliamentarians from different parts of Europe are coming together with Roma-led institutions, opening up one of the most important questions of the contemporary Roma political movement: what comes after political representation and how to turn the won mandate into real decision-making power and concrete changes in people’s lives.

This is taking place in the largest Roma settlement in Europe, the Šutka in Skopje, North Macedonia.

Germany News Western Europe

ERIAC and Racism

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ERIAC and Racism

In view of tomorrow’s elections in Saxony-Anhalt, were the AfD has a fair chance of ruling the region, ERIAC has a strong message on fascism and racism…

News Eastern Europe Poland

Exhibition

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Exhibition

If you happen to visit Poland in the upcoming months, “Weś gilaweł / The forest Is singing”, an exhibition of works by Małgorzata Mirga-Tas dedicated to the memory of the Romani genocide, has just opened in Zakopane and will be on display until 31 January.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

EU Funds

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EU Funds

Vladimir Ledecký criticizes the allocation of EU funds for Roma projects, claiming they are wasted on ineffective projects instead of addressing real issues in Roma communities.

He highlights potential corruption and nepotism in government-funded initiatives, particularly involving the organization Lavuta, which is linked to the government plenipotentiary for Roma communities, Alexander Daško, who has arranged 749,000 euros for his wife.

The Ministry of Labour defends the projects as necessary and compliant with regulations, while Lavuta argues that their work is essential for improving the lives of families in poverty.

His voice carries weigth, as he is known for his exemplary work with the Roma community when as the mayor of Spišsky Hrov and during his work in the Prešov region.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Racism in School

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Racism in School

On the first day of school at Šmihel Primary School in Novo mesto, Slovenia, a Roma child was bullied by classmates who expressed their refusal to be in the same class as him, highlighting ongoing discrimination against Roma children in schools.

The mother of the bullied child emphasized that such discrimination starts early and worsens over time, with complaints about Roma children beginning in the first grade.

Local Roma councilor Bojan Tudja noted that incidents of discrimination are common and that schools often fail to address these issues, leading to a negative environment for Roma students.

News Eastern Europe Romania

School Supplies

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School Supplies

Nice, but a drop in a large Ocean…

101 Roma children from Berchișești received school supplies through a European project implemented by ACDC in partnership with local schools and the municipality.

The project includes warm meals and a program to support children’s education and personal development, with activities like homework help and creative arts.

Local organizations emphasize the importance of collaboration between schools and families to improve educational access and prevent school dropout.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

School Segregation

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School Segregation

Approximately 250 Roma students attend the Vuk Karadžić Elementary School in Niš, highlighting the issue of educational segregation as nearly all students belong to the same ethnic community.

Despite various initiatives, the long-standing problem of educational segregation persists, with the school’s location near a Roma settlement contributing to the high percentage of Roma students.

The focus should be on ensuring desegregation and equal educational opportunities for all children, rather than simply relocating Roma students from the school.

France News Western Europe

Homage to Toni Gatlif

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Homage to Toni Gatlif

Many articles on Toni Gatlif, a French director known for his films celebrating Roma culture, who passed away at 77 due to health issues while working on a film in France.

His notable works include ‘Latcho Drom’ and ‘Gadjo Dilo’, both of which received critical acclaim and awards.

Gatlif, born in Algeria, had a complex background and was recognized for his unique storytelling that highlighted themes of music, movement, and exile.

France News Western Europe

Toni Gatlif

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Toni Gatlif

Filmmaker Tony Gatlif, a champion of Roma culture with some twenty films to his credit – including Gadjo Dilo – died on Wednesday at the age of 77, his family announced to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Friday, September 4. The director died in Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône) from health problems while working on a historical film project.

Te avel i phuv lokhi!

News Asia

Lyuli

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Lyuli

The Lyuli/Mughat communities, often stereotyped as beggars, have a rich cultural heritage that includes craftsmanship, family life, and a complex identity shaped by their long history in Central Asia. Lyuli are most probably related to the same migratiobn that brought Roma to Europe.

The documentary “We Are (At) Home” by Shakhzoda Mirakova highlights the everyday lives of these communities, challenging the narrow public perception focused on poverty and marginalization.

Despite their integration into Central Asian society, the Lyuli/Mughat face significant challenges, including limited representation in education and public life, and are often labeled with derogatory terms that obscure their diverse identities.

Europe News Americas

IT and Extreme Right

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IT and Extreme Right

David Heinemeier Hansson has called for the extensive deportation of Roma and Sinti, raising controversy around his political views.

He is known as the creator of Ruby on Rails but has lost respect in the software community due to his right-wing political stance and support for far-right extremists.

Omarchy, an initiative associated with Hansson, is linked to his controversial reputation.

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